1 Kings 5

Solomon Secures the Blueprint & the Bricks

1 When Hiram, king of Tyre, heard Solomon took the throne after David, he sent his servants to salute him. Hiram had always been down with David.

2 Solomon hit him back with a message:

3 “You know my pops could not build the Lord’s house because he had enemies all around. He stayed in battle mode ‘til the Lord shut his enemies down.”

4 “But now the Lord gave me peace, no enemies, no attacks, no drama.”

5 “So I am building a temple for the Lord, just like He told my father. God said, ‘Your son will build Me a house.’ That is me.”

6 “Now, do me a favor, send your men to cut cedar trees from Lebanon. My servants will roll with yours, and I will pay your guys whatever price you say. Nobody cuts wood like the men of Sidon.”

7 When Hiram got the message, he was hype and gave praise to God: “Bless the Lord who gave David a wise son to lead this great nation!”

8 Hiram replied to Solomon: “I heard your request, and I got you. I am going to send all the cedar and cypress you need.”

9 “My guys will float the logs down the coast to wherever you want them dropped off. Then you take them from there. Just make sure my people get food.”

10 So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the cedar and cypress wood he needed.

11 And Solomon paid Hiram 20,000 cors of wheat and 20,000 baths of pressed olive oil every year to feed his household.

12 The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just like He promised. Hiram and Solomon were tight, they even made a peace treaty.

Building Crew Gets Organized

13 Solomon called up 30,000 workers from all over Israel.

14 He sent them to Lebanon in shifts, 10,000 at a time. They worked one month up, two months back home. Adoniram was over the workforce.

15 Solomon had 70,000 laborers carrying loads, 80,000 stone cutters in the hill country,

16 And 3,300 foremen managing the crews.

17 At the king’s command, they quarried massive stones, high-quality stuff, for the temple’s foundation.

18 Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s workers, along with the men of Gebal, cut and prepared the timber and stone to get ready for construction.